Full Text Citations For
Award ofThe Distinguished Service Cross U.S.
Army - Mexican Border Wars

CASTLEMAN, JAMES P.First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
13th Cavalry
Date of Action: March 9, 1916Citation:The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James P. Castleman,
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at
Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9, 1916. During the attack on the town
of Columbus by Mexicans under Villa, Lieutenant Castleman, by his
gallant conduct and the successful and effective disposition of his
troops in defense, save the lives of many civilians and prevented the
loss of much property in the town.General Orders No. No. 2, W.D., 1920
Home Town: Louisville, KY

FANNIN, OLIVER W.First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
35th Infantry 29th Division
Date of Action: August 27, 1918Citation:The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Oliver W. Fannin,
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in an
engagement with hostile Mexicans at Nogales, Arizona, August 27, 1918,
while commanding the guard, 35th U.S. Infantry.General Orders No. 44, W.D., 1919
Home Town: Midland, TX

LAVERY, JAMES FLAVIANPrivate First Class, U.S. Army
Quartermaster Corps
Date of Action: August 27, 1918Citation:The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Flavian
Lavery, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
action during an engagement with hostile Mexicans at Nogales, Arizona,
and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, on the 27th of August, 1918. Private
Lavery, braving the heaviest fire, repeatedly entered the zone of fire
with his motor truck and carried wounded men to places of safety,
thereby saving the lives of several soldiers.General Orders No. 9, W.D., 1923
Home Town: New York, NY

SMITH, HERBERT REEVESSergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Signal Corps
Date of Action: October 21, 1915Citation:The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Herbert Reeves
Smith, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
action at Ojo de Agua, Texas, October 21, 1915. When the detachment of
which he was a member was treacherously attacked at night by a hostile
Mexican force of approximately five times its strength and the senior
line noncommissioned officer of the detachment and two other men
killed, Sergeant Smith, although suffering from three wounds, took
command, and by his coolness, personal bravery, and qualities of
leadership encouraged the detachment and organized its defense that
the greatly superior force of Mexicans was driven off and the
detachment saved from probable annihilation.General Orders No. No. 10, W.D., 1924
Home Town: Tampico, IL

TOMPKINS, FRANKMajor, U.S. Army
13th Cavalry
Date of Action: March 9, 1916Citation:The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank Tompkins,
Major, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Columbus, New
Mexico, March 9, 1916. Major Tompkins requested and received authority
to pursue a superior force of bandits into Mexico. Although wounded
early in the pursuit, he carried on a running fight with the bandits
for several miles, inflicting heavy losses upon them and stopped the
pursuit only when men and horses were exhausted and ammunition was
reduced to a few rounds per man.General Orders No. 8, W.D., 1934
Home Town: Governors Island, NY